The Southern Lakes Helicopters director and chief pilot said the Te Anau-based company was yesterday awarded one of the most prestigious and challenging flying operations in the southern hemisphere - the 2012-13 season with Antarctica New Zealand, working from Scott Base.
The contract, awarded by tender, was finalised just as Mr Hayes and his wife, Carol, took over sole ownership of Heliworks, Southern Lakes Helicopters' sister company, from previous shareholders Robert Butson, Brian Hore and the late Denis Egerton.
Known for his search and rescue feats in Fiordland, the Southern Alps and the Southern Ocean, Mr Hayes was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2000 for services in search and rescue. He pioneered long-distance subantarctic helicopter rescue flights, and was the first to introduce night vision goggles into New Zealand.
Despite his success, Mr Hayes, who has logged almost 30,000 flight hours, said yesterday winning the Antarctica New Zealand contract was a career highlight.
"It's very, very exciting news for us. We've been working on the tender for several months ... there was strong competition."
Mr Hayes said one AS350 B3 Squirrel, a heavy-lift, high-altitude, single-engine aircraft, would be flown to the Antarctic on a Starlifter from Christchurch for the work, which would begin in November for about three and a-half months.
A pilot, back-up pilot and engineer to service the machine would travel to Scott Base to work with Antarctica New Zealand carrying out scientific research.
Southern Lakes Helicopters and Heliworks operations manager Lloyd Matheson said the contract was an acknowledgement of the skill level, safety record and "exemplary standards" set by both companies.
